"My warriors can help reinforce the borders. With the rogues working with Hunters from time to time, this could be a play to push Lily where they want her," Garrett offered. Ethan nodded. He appreciated his friend's help but knew it wasn't just Lily at risk. However, that was a conversation for later. "Your offer is gratefully accepted, Garrett. We need all the help we can get." Turning his attention to Deanna, who stood near the window with her arms crossed over her chest, Ethan said, "Deanna, let me know if you receive any pushback from Garrett's warriors. They're here to help, not hinder our efforts." Deanna's gaze met Ethan's, and she nodded in understanding. "Understood, Alpha. But while we're on the subject, I recommend we intensify our training. I think we need to push ourselves even harder." Ethan considered her words. The balance between protecting his people and keeping them prepared was a delicate one, but he trusted Deanna's judgment. "Very well," he agreed, his t
The steam from Milo's coffee rose lazily, twirling and dissipating like the thoughts that haunted him. He sat, hunching over his cup, lost in the memory of Kasia's face. It had been three weeks since he'd seen her with the Alpha King. The sight of them together only slightly exceeded the shock of finding her alive. Why was she with him? Didn't she know that being around him would put her in danger? Clearly, she didn't know or she didn't care. Milo wanted to tell her more about the situation instead of leaving it on such a bad note, but Milo knew not to linger. His gut twisted at the thought, but he knew he wasn't the only Hunter lurking around at the time. If they saw him talking to her, it would have blown his cover. He had to get away as quickly as possible, hoping she heeded his warning. "Coward," Milo muttered. He remembered watching from a distance when she almost fell off the rollercoaster. Milo knew it was going to happen but could do nothing about it. Thankfully, the Alph
Kasia stumbled backward, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth as it trickled from her nose. Gritting her teeth, she wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand and glared. The young man had a cocky grin on his face, clearly pleased with himself for landing a blow. "Let me at him," Deva, the wolf inside her, urged, her voice low and primal. Kasia could feel her anger within her as she approached the young man, her hazel eyes locked on his. "No. Remember, I'm supposed to be a lycan. They can't know about you," Kasia answered. "Hit him back harder, then," Deva growled. "Alright, come on then," he taunted, raising his fists and preparing for another attack. With a snarl, Kasia deftly dodged his attacks, moving with a grace and speed that only a werewolf could possess. She swiftly delivered a kidney shot, causing him to double over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, she pinned him to the ground, her knee pressing firmly against his chest. "Enough!" he ga
"Just tell us how to get there, Lana. We've been through this already. You're not coming with us," Janet pleaded once again. How many times was she going to have to tell her that she couldn't come? Since they came to her three weeks ago, Lana has been firm about not telling them until they agreed to take her. They were wasting time by arguing like this. Lana stood with her arms crossed, her expression firm. She stared at Janet as she made her case. She knew Janet was the only one who opposed her plan, but she couldn't risk anyone's safety by allowing them to go alone. "Janet, I understand where you're coming from," Lana began, trying to appeal to Janet's rational side. "I know I can be a liability, but trust me, the only way I'll help you get to the hunters' base is if I go with you. It's not safe for anyone to go alone." "There are traps everywhere laced with silver. If you fall into even one of those traps, that's it. You'll get swarmed," Lana insisted. "I know exactly where
Kasia's head hit the desk with a soft thud, her dark hair splayed around her like a halo of frustration. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of Ethan hovering over her, holding her hips. Kasia shouldn't feel this way about Ethan, she scolded herself. "Take a break, Kasia," Deva, her wolf, urged softly. "We've done all we can for now. The scouts are out there, searching for any clues about the rogue wolves." "Deva, I can't," she muttered under her breath. "I have to stay focused and get through this paperwork." "Look," Deva replied, her presence calming and steady. "We've already sent out scouts to investigate the situation. There's nothing more we can do for now. You should focus on the upcoming Summer Solstice celebration." Kasia groaned at the thought of a celebration. It was a reminder of the progress she had made in her training and the expectations that weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had been trying to avoid the event as much as she could, but there
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup
Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore." "Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny. "Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?" Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it." "About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color—black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation. Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of make
The moon cast an eerie glow on the ground as Deanna, Janet, Lana, and a few warriors made their way through the dense forest. The air was thick with tension, and Lana led them with quiet determination. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she focused on the task at hand. "Remember," she whispered to the others, "the closer we get to the hunters' base, the more traps there'll be. Stay alert." An impatient warrior, his face contorted in frustration, grumbled under his breath. He'd grown tired of following Lana's slow pace, and he decided to speed forward. Lana's hazel eyes flashed a warning, and she called out to him. "Don't! You don't know where the traps are." But her words fell on deaf ears. Just as the warrior was about to step into a well-hidden pit filled with sharp spikes, Lana lunged at him, pushing him aside. In doing so, her arm grazed one of the silver-tipped spikes, and she winced, silver oozing from the wound. "Idiot!" Lana hissed as she clutched her injured arm. "You could